By Parisa Hafezi and Emily Rose
DUBAI/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel mentioned it struck navy websites in Iran early on Saturday in retaliation for Tehran’s assaults on Israel earlier this month, the most recent assault within the escalating battle between the closely armed rivals.
Iranian media reported a number of explosions over a number of hours within the capital and at close by navy bases, however there have been no quick experiences of injury or casualties.
Earlier than daybreak, Israel’s public broadcaster mentioned three waves of strikes had been accomplished and that the operation was over.
The Center East has been on edge awaiting Israel’s retaliation for a ballistic-missile barrage carried out by Iran on Oct. 1, through which round 200 missiles have been fired at Israel and one individual was killed within the West Financial institution.
Tensions between arch rivals Israel and Iran have escalated since Hamas, the Iran-backed Palestinian militant group based mostly in Gaza, attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Hamas has been supported by Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants, additionally backed by Iran.
Fears that Iran and the U.S. can be drawn right into a regional warfare have risen with Israel’s intensifying assault on Hezbollah since final month, together with airstrikes on the Lebanese capital Beirut and a floor operation, in addition to its year-old battle within the Gaza Strip.
“In response to months of steady assaults from the regime in Iran in opposition to the State of Israel – proper now the Israel Protection Forces is conducting exact strikes on navy targets in Iran,” Israel’s navy mentioned in a press release.
The navy mentioned later that it had accomplished its “focused” assaults in opposition to navy targets in Iran, including that its planes had safely returned dwelling.
Israel has the best and obligation to answer assaults from Tehran and its proxies, which have included missile strikes launched from Iranian soil, the navy mentioned.
Targets didn’t embody vitality infrastructure or nuclear amenities, a U.S. official mentioned.
U.S. President Joe Biden had warned that Washington, Israel’s essential backer and provider of arms, wouldn’t help a strike on Tehran’s nuclear websites and has mentioned Israel ought to contemplate options to attacking Iran’s oil fields.
Iranian authorities have repeatedly warned Israel in opposition to any assault.
“Iran reserves the best to answer any aggression, and there’s no doubt that Israel will face a proportional response for any motion it takes,” the semi-official Tasnim information company mentioned on Saturday, quoting sources.
IRAN PLAYS DOWN STRIKES
Iranian state TV quoted a navy spokesman as saying the explosions heard in Tehran have been linked “to air protection programs reacting to efforts by the Zionist regime (Israel) to assault three areas exterior the town of Tehran.”
Movies carried by Iranian media confirmed air defences repeatedly firing at apparently incoming projectiles in central Tehran, with out saying which websites have been coming underneath assault.
The semi-official Iranian Fars information company mentioned a number of navy bases within the west and southwest of Tehran had additionally been focused.
Tasnim mentioned Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps bases that have been attacked weren’t broken.
A spokesperson for Iran’s Civil Aviation Group mentioned flights on all routes have been cancelled till additional discover, state information company IRNA reported.
Neighbouring Iraq additionally suspended flights in all of its airports till additional discover, its state information company mentioned.
Israel focused some navy websites in Syria’s central and southern elements with airstrikes early on Saturday, Syrian state information company SANA reported. Israel has not confirmed hanging Syria.
U.S. INFORMED AHEAD OF STRIKES
Israel mentioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Protection Minister Yoav Gallant and different safety officers have been carefully following the operation on the navy’s command and management centre in Tel Aviv.
Gallant spoke to U.S. Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin shortly after Israel’s response started, a U.S. defence official mentioned.
America was notified by Israel forward of its strikes on targets in Iran however was not concerned within the operation, one other U.S. official advised Reuters.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, within the Center East for an additional try to dealer a peace deal, mentioned on Wednesday Israel’s retaliation shouldn’t result in higher escalation.
Even because it sought to persuade Israel to calibrate its strikes, the US moved to reassure its closest ally within the Center East that it might assist in its defence ought to Tehran resolve to stage a counter-attack.
This included Biden’s choice to maneuver the U.S. navy’s THAAD anti-missile defences to Israel, together with about 100 U.S. troopers to function them.
